As per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, subjects of ‘Police and Public Order’ are with the State Governments. However, to address the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) menace holistically, a National Policy and Action Plan was launched in 2015 to address LWE. The Policy envisages a multi-pronged strategy involving security related measures, development interventions, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities, etc.

On the security front, the Government of India (GoI) supports the LWE affected State Governments by providing Central Armed Police Forces battalions, helicopters, training, funds for modernisation of State police forces, arms and equipment, sharing of intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations, etc.

The GoI also provides funds for capacity building of the LWE affected States under various schemes, like Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme and Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS) to fight the LWE menace effectively. Under SIS approved in 2017, projects worth Rs. 371 crore have been sanctioned for strengthening Special Forces (SF) and Special Intelligence Branches (SIB) for LWE operations and 250 Fortified Police Stations worth Rs. 620 crore in vulnerable LWE affected areas.  Under SRE scheme, Rs. 2,259 crore has been released to States since 2014-15.

            On development front, The GoI has taken several specific initiatives in LWE affected States. Special thrust has been given on expansion of road network, improving telecommunication connectivity, skill development and financial inclusion.

            More than 10,300 kms of roads have already been constructed in LWE affected areas under the specific schemes e.g. Road Requirement Plan-I   (RRP-I) and Road Connectivity Project for LWE affected areas (RCPLWEA). 2,343 mobile towers were installed under Phase-I and work order has been issued for 2,542 towers under Phase-II of Mobile Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas. Rs. 3,078 crore has been released to the Most LWE Affected Districts under the scheme ‘Special Central Assistance (SCA)’ to fill the critical gaps in public infrastructure and services. Special focus has been given on Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of the youth. 47 ITIs and 68 Skill Development Centers (SDC) have been approved under the “Skill Development Scheme in 47 LWE Districts affected by LWE”.

            For financial inclusion of the local populace in these areas, 1,236 Bank Branches were opened, 1,077 ATMs installed and 14,230 Banking Correspondents made functional in Most LWE Affected Districts in the last 6 years. Further, 4,903 Post Offices have been approved for LWE affected areas in the last 5 years, of which, 3,053 have been made functional.

            Apart from the specific schemes for LWE affected areas, the Ministry of Home Affairs works in close coordination with other Ministries for optimum implementation of the flagship schemes of those Ministries in LWE affected areas.

The steadfast implementation of the ‘National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE - 2015’ has resulted in consistent decline in violence. The incidents of LWE  violence  have  reduced by 77% from an all time high of 2,258 in 2009 to 509 in 2021. Similarly, the resultant deaths (Civilians + Security Forces) have reduced by 85% from an all time high of 1,005 in 2010 to 147 in 2021. The number of LWE incidents in last five years i.e. 2017 to 2021, year-wise is as follows:

The details of Left Wing Extremists, security personnel and civilians killed in LWE incidents in the last five years, year-wise is as follows:

 

The geographical spread of the violence has significantly reduced over the years and now only 191 Police Stations of 46 districts have reported LWE related violence in 2021 as compared to a high of 465 Police Stations of 96 districts in 2010. In 2014, LWE violence was reported from 333 Police Stations from 70 districts. Decline in geographical spread is also reflected in the reduced number of districts covered under the SRE Scheme. The number of SRE districts reduced from 126 to 90 in April 2018 and further to 70 in July 2021. Similarly, the number of districts contributing approximately 90% of the LWE violence, categorised as Most LWE Affected Districts, came down to 30 from 35 in 2018 and further to 25 in 2021.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

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NW/RK/AY/RR/2296

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